AUCKLAND HUNDRED.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 882, 27 September 1854, Page 3

AU CK LAND HUNDRED.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir, —I have observed in your columns the opinion expressed by the Farmer’s Club, that the present system of Hundreds is not applicable to this Province. Allow me to draw your attention to a fact connected with the management of the Auckland Hundred. In the year 1051, a Crown Lands Amendment Ordinance was passed—conferring a benefit on the license holders, so that if they were highly taxed for their cattle feeding on a few acres of scoria land, they at all events had the power to protect the run and their cattle, by making by-laws applicable to all persons, licensed or not. Now, Sir, to prove one of the absurdities In tbo present management, it is a fact that by-laws are made enforcing the most stringent regulations and high penalties on license holders, but that all persons unlicensed are exempt from any such laws. Surely the license holders arc not aware of their present position, or they would take means to point out to our present active Wardens their very great error. The case at present stands thus : A license holder is subject to the following expense for feeding his cattle on the run, viz. :—License fee, 10s. <>d ; assessment on cattle. Is. 01. on apportioned, and ss. on extra cattle per head per annum. He is also open to be fined if he neglects the by-laws to the amount of 10s or £5. Whilst the un'iccnsed individual can take advantage of the Hundred, and is exempt from all fines or regulations, subject only to impounding, providing the Ranger is able to get hold of his cattle; in proof of which; an instance occurred lately where an unlicensed person allowed an entire horse-to run at Inigo, causing great injury and mischief to the property of license holders ; but the individual is exempt from fine in consequence of the neglect of those elected to regulate such affairs by not making bylaws, as provided for by the Ordinance. Persons not holding licenses can congratulate themselves for their escape from fines and taxation, and license holders should profit by tbo lesson. What may he the opinion of the Wardens on the eight months’ neglect of the principal part of their duty will he hard to tell ; and they have certainly defeated one of their greatest principl s —obtaining a largo revenue-—by ill ir own negl'gcnce. Yours, obediently. Agricola. Epsom, September 22.